TTP’s attack in Balochistan exposes vulnerability of Pakistan

Pakistan: The National Security Committee of Pakistan held a 2-day meeting to tackle the threat from Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan. The committee has also had a meeting about dealing with the Afghan Taliban. It stated that attacks by the TTP on Pakistan increased after America withdrew its forces from Afghanistan in the year 2021.

Pakistan has been witnessing a huge number of terrorist attacks, for which the administration expresses zero tolerance. The attacks are not allowing the country to perpetrate violence in the country.

Recently, the Interior Minister of Pakistan, Rana Sanaullah, released a statement on the possibility of Islamabad attacking TTP hideouts in Afghanistan, to which the Kabul government has expressed its displeasure. The idea of possible transgression by its neighbour was condemned by the spokesperson of TTP, Zabihullah Mujahid.

The umbrella of TTP has been joined by other insurgents, and now there are expectations that the group will be joined by some Baloch separatists. Many authorities have claimed that this can be one of the reasons behind the rise in the attacks on law enforcement agencies in Balochistan’s southwestern province.

The security establishment has expressed greater anger regarding the attacks in the country. The state narrative can be judged through the picture of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, General Sahir Shamshad Mirza, and the Pakistan Army Chief General Asim Munir is carrying the coffin of a young officer who was recently killed in an attack in Balochistan.

It is believed that such images are needed regarding the more potent threats from the TTP. It can be recalled that Pakistan was on the edge of terrorism in 2018 when a police officer died in a suicide attack in Islamabad on December 23. During the year 2018, the major Pakistan cities, including Quetta, Karachi, Peshawar and others, also faced a threat of terror. This was a period when no one in Pakistan wanted to return to – politicians, military or ordinary people as it was believed that all the counter-terrorism operations, such as Khyber-4, Zarb-e-Azb (the comprehensive blow), and Radd-ul-Fasaad (elimination of discord) are good for nothing.